EXCLUSIVE: UTA’s five new partners and the other agents who made the move from CAA are settling in and have begun reeling in some important clients in play since last week’s shocker. UTA is keeping mum at the moment on who is signing on, but I’ve heard that as many as 150 clients are coming into the fold. This follows last week’s move of Will Ferrell, Chris Pratt and Ed Helms.

Chief among the new signing: The Hangover star Zach Galifianakis and Jonathan Krisel, executive producer and director of their upcoming FX series Baskets; Night At The Museum and Reno 911 duo Thomas Lennon & Ben Garant; Flight Of The Conchords creators Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie; UK-based comedy writers Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong (Peep Show); Charlie Siskel, who directed the Oscar-nominated docu Finding Vivian Meier; and British director James Bobin, the director of multiple Muppets movies who next helms Alice In Wonderland 2. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Stay tuned.

This follows the move of Jason Heyman, Martin Lesak, Gregory McKnight, Greg Cavic and Nick Nuciforo from the CAA comedy department to partner positions at UTA.

I feel bad for anyone losing a job working who were working for the agents leaping to UTA. Will UTA not hire new people now beause they have to assimilate all the staff of the leaping agents. It is an intriguing comical farscical event this leap. But there are going to be people hurt. Hope they can spare the blood on the streets.

don't believe the hype.... • on Apr 6, 2015 4:14 pm

That’s less than 14 clients per agent… meh. CAA will survive.

Jim J. • on Apr 6, 2015 5:24 pm

Over 150 talents are defecting from CAA to UTA? Cue the New World Order (nWo) theme music…

Karmic Cosmo • on Apr 6, 2015 5:56 pm

Is C.C. Hirsch the only comedy agent left at CAA?

CAA News • on Apr 7, 2015 12:50 am

Correction please. Make that 149 clients. Garry Shandling is staying with CAA.